By ALICIA LEONARD
The Walton County School Board(WCSB) met for their scheduled session on May 7, 2013 at 5 p.m. During announcements Walton County School Superintendent Carlene Anderson congratulated area school athletes on recent achievements. The South Walton High School girl’s basketball team, along with coaches and supporters, visited the board after their 1A State Championship win in February of this year.
The board approved an amended agenda unanimously 4-0, with board member Sharon Roberts being called away from the meeting unexpectedly. The adoption of minutes, including workshop, regular meetings, and expulsion hearings from April 2013 were passed unanimously as well.
WCSB Chairmen Mark Davis called for public comments and with none forthcoming the board moved on to the consent agenda portion of the meeting.
Anderson recommended approval of the consent agenda and the board moved to vote 4-0 to approve the recommendation.
Action agenda items came before the board next. The board moved unanimously to approve multiple project applications for Perkins IV secondary, and rural funding that is contingent to Florida’s federal funding. The funds would be used to help expand Career Technical Education (CTE) and expanding career education programs in the district. The funding would come in a little over $130,000 if expectations are realized from the applications.
A budget amendment in the general fund was the next item before the board. Davis requested information about a decrease in A+ School Recognition funds from the original budget. WCSB Chief Financial Officer Mary Hobbs responded the funding was being estimated on last year’s numbers as the new numbers are gathered and the last year’s funding levels were lower. The board approved the amended budget 4-0.
Requests to approve invoices for the Florida School Labor Relation/Florida Educational Negotiators dues for 2013-2014 were passed 4-0, as well as approvals of format changes to Federal Impact Aid documents, and personnel recommendations.
WCSB member Faye Leddon asked questions about a personnel resignation and an email she received about certain conditions and possible financial issues with Mossy Head School. Anderson responded that she had read the letter as well and had launched an informal investigation on the “allegations” put forth in the circulating email and thought part of the issue might be “personality differences.” The finances for all schools would be audited this summer, as they are every year, she said.
Insurance Consultant Service contracts were renewed by the board unanimously, as were payroll slot deductions for Allstate and New York Life insurance companies.
Approval of the 2013 Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs and Implementation Plans was passed 4-0, as was a request for a separate school number for Walton Career Development Center’s Post Secondary Programs.
The board also approved 4-0 to advertise a notice of rule development and intent to adopt a proposed rule to give administrators emergency pay who are legally bound to stay with school properties during their use as a shelter, in the future.
Lisa Harrison was approved 4-0 as the newest board member of the Walton Education Foundation.
Professional membership dues for Anderson to the Florida Association of District School Superintendents was approved unanimously.
Student expulsions were next on the action agenda. Six expulsions were up for the board’s examination. Two expulsions requested were from students’ bus incidents, one was a revision to an original expulsion, and the last three were regular expulsion requests. The board approved the recommendations for expulsion and the one revision to allow a student to attend an adult secondary program 4-0.
In closing remarks, Leddon thanked retiring school employees for their service. Anderson congratulated many students that had placed in technical events at the state level.
The board discussed possible workshop dates and approved unanimously a date of June 4, 2013 for three meetings dealing with student progression, codes of conduct and budgets, before adjourning.
The next regular meeting for the board is scheduled for May 21 at 5 p.m. To see agendas, minutes from past meetings and more from the WCSB, go to www.walton.k12.fl.us/board/minutes.